It is a huge technical operation to intercept an order and replace it with modified devices without the target knowing. Particularly when the target has to be extra careful in ordering things in the first place to avoid sanctions.
In contrast sending out an “execute order 66” message is pretty trivial to trigger them
This wasn’t an interception. The devices were designed and manufactured by Israeli intelligence. They just licensed out brandnames through shell companies, and convinced Hezbollah to buy models from their agents by conventional spycraft.
Not a ton is known, by from what I understand the explosives were part of a secondary board added to the pagers, which would also have the ability to listen for a separate signal or look for a specific one the pager received.
Well, they had to make room inside for the high explosive charge, so it was never going to be a slight change to an off-the-shelf product. There’s not typically a lot of dead space in a pager.
I saw some videos about how strong C4 actually is. A single capacitor could in theory hold the payload we have seen. That would also hide it if the device were opened.
It is a huge technical operation to intercept an order and replace it with modified devices without the target knowing. Particularly when the target has to be extra careful in ordering things in the first place to avoid sanctions.
In contrast sending out an “execute order 66” message is pretty trivial to trigger them
How would this message trigger the explosive?
Taking control of a shipping container, opening all of pagers and adding some explosives is obvious and not too hard for people with that power.
Replacing all the chips, or hacking their firmware, is different, and is what I’m asking about.
Most bombs that use a phone as the trigger use the speaker for example. But in these pagers that would have already set off loads.
This wasn’t an interception. The devices were designed and manufactured by Israeli intelligence. They just licensed out brandnames through shell companies, and convinced Hezbollah to buy models from their agents by conventional spycraft.
Yes, more evidence comes to light.
Replace battery with battery/explosive/receiver combo.
I believe they triggers a cell in the LIPO batteries to overheat causing the explosive material to explode.
Not a ton is known, by from what I understand the explosives were part of a secondary board added to the pagers, which would also have the ability to listen for a separate signal or look for a specific one the pager received.
Thanks. This is more along the lines of what I’m interested in.
A custom made board for this increases the difficulty and size of this operation by a lot.
Well, they had to make room inside for the high explosive charge, so it was never going to be a slight change to an off-the-shelf product. There’s not typically a lot of dead space in a pager.
I saw some videos about how strong C4 actually is. A single capacitor could in theory hold the payload we have seen. That would also hide it if the device were opened.
Is there data on what the payload actually was?
I don’t think there is at the moment.
May have been done at the source of the manufacturing.
Not sure that falls under “intercepted”